Critical Care Nursing Practice Questions

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Rationale: Accurately identifying patients is a National Patient Safety Goal to prevent errors in patient care. Proper patient identification ensures correct treatments and medications are given, reducing harm. Restraint elimination, medication reconciliation, and infection reduction are important goals but not specific National Patient Safety Goals. Accurate patient identification directly addresses patient safety concerns.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Provide emotional support and comfort measures. In the final stages of dying, the focus shifts from curative treatment to providing comfort and dignity. Emotional support helps alleviate anxiety and fear, promoting a peaceful transition. Comfort measures like pain management improve quality of life. Encouraging the patient to eat may be futile as the body shuts down. Performing frequent assessments for recovery signs is not appropriate in this situation. Implementing aggressive interventions could go against the patient's wishes for a natural death.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: dialysis disequilibrium syndrome. This occurs when there is a rapid decrease in urea concentration in the blood during hemodialysis, causing fluid shifts and cerebral edema leading to symptoms like headache, nausea, and confusion. Dialyzer membrane incompatibility (A) would present with allergic reactions, not neurological symptoms. A shift in potassium levels (B) may cause muscle weakness or cardiac arrhythmias, but not the described symptoms. Hypothermia (D) would present with low body temperature and shivering, not the neurological symptoms mentioned.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Offering the patient a patient-controlled analgesic device. This intervention allows the patient to self-administer pain relief, which can help alleviate discomfort associated with mechanical ventilation and reduce agitation. Breathing exercises (choice A) may not address the root cause of agitation. Asking for antianxiety medication (choice C) may not be immediate or ideal due to potential side effects. Offering an MP3 player (choice D) may provide distraction but may not effectively address the agitation caused by the ventilator.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for choice C: 1. Activity intolerance is a priority nursing problem postoperatively due to pain. 2. Postoperative pain can limit the client's ability to perform activities. 3. Addressing activity intolerance is crucial for promoting recovery and preventing complications. 4. Delaying the teaching session helps the nurse focus on managing pain first. Summary of why other choices are incorrect: - Choice A: Knowledge deficit can be addressed after managing immediate postoperative issues. - Choice B: Treatment regimen management is important but may not be as urgent as addressing activity intolerance related to pain. - Choice D: Noncompliance with exercise plan can be addressed once the client's pain and activity intolerance are under control.